House price Keynesianism and the contradictions of the modern investor subject

This article conceptualises the marked downturn in UK house prices in the 2007-2009 period in relation to longer-term processes of national economic restructuring centred on a new model of homeownership. The structure of UK house prices has been impacted markedly by the Labour Government‟s efforts to ingrain a particular notion of financial literacy amid the move towards an increasingly asset-based system of welfare. New model welfare recipients and new model homeowners have thereby been co-constituted in a manner consistent with a new UK growth regime of „house price Keynesianism‟. However, the investor subjects who drive such growth are necessarily rendered uncertain as compared with the idealised image of Government policy because of their reliance on the credit-creating decisions of private financial institutions. The recent steep decline in UK house prices is explained here as an epiphenomenon of the disruptive effect on the idealised image caused by the dependence of investor subjects on pricing dynamics not of their making

Open Education and the emancipation of academic labour

I have previously argued that open education is a liberal project with a focus on the freedom of things rather than the freedom of people (Winn, Joss. 2012. “Open Education: From the Freedom of Things to the Freedom of People.” In Towards Teaching in Public: Reshaping the Modern University, edited by Michael Neary, Howard Stevenson, and Les Bell, 133– 147. London: Continuum). Furthermore, I have argued that despite an implicit critique of private property with its emphasis on ‘the commons’, the literature on open education offers no corresponding critique of academic labour (Neary, Mike, and Joss Winn. 2012. “Open Education: Common(s), Commonism and the New Common Wealth.” Ephemera: Theory & Politics in Organization 12 (4): 406–422). In this paper, I develop my critical position that an emancipatory form of education must work towards the emancipation of teachers and students from labour, the dynamic, social, creative source of value in capitalism. In making this argument, I first establish the fundamental characteristics of academic labour. I then offer a ‘form-analytic’ critique of open access, followed by a corresponding critique of its legal form. Finally, I critically discuss the potential of ‘open cooperatives’ as a transitional organisational form for the production of knowledge through which social relations become ‘transparent in their simplicity’ (Marx, Karl. 1976. Capital, Vol. 1. London: Penguin Classics, 172)

A Novel In Vivo Approach to Assess Radial and Axial Distensibility of Large and Intermediate Pulmonary Artery Branches

Pulmonary arteries (PAs) distend to accommodate increases in cardiac output. PA distensibility protects the right ventricle (RV) from excessive increases in pressure. Loss of PA distensibility plays a critical role in the fatal progression of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) toward RV failure. However, it is unclear how PA distensibility is distributed across the generations of PA branches, mainly because of the lack of appropriate in vivo methods to measure distensibility of vessels other than the large, conduit PAs. In this study, we propose a novel approach to assess the distensibility of individual PA branches. The metric of PA distensibility we used is the slope of the stretch ratio-pressure relationship. To measure distensibility, we combined invasive measurements of mean PA pressure with angiographic imaging of the PA network of six healthy female dogs. Stacks of 2D images of the PAs, obtained from either contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CE-MRA) or computed tomography digital subtraction angiography (CT-DSA), were used to reconstruct 3D surface models of the PA network, from the first bifurcation down to the sixth generation of branches. For each branch of the PA, we calculated radial and longitudinal stretch between baseline and a pressurized state obtained via acute embolization of the pulmonary vasculature. Our results indicated that large and intermediate PA branches have a radial distensibility consistently close to 2%/mmHg. Our axial distensibility data, albeit affected by larger variability, suggested that the PAs distal to the first generation may not significantly elongate in vivo, presumably due to spatial constraints. Results from both angiographic techniques were comparable to data from established phase-contrast (PC) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ex vivo mechanical tests, which can only be used in the first branch generation. Our novel method can be used to characterize PA distensibility in PAH patients undergoing clinical right heart catheterization (RHC) in combination with MRI

Minsky and the Subprime Mortgage Crisis: The Financial Instability Hypothesis in the Era of Financialization

The aim of this paper is to develop a structural explanation of the subprime mortgage crisis, grounded on the combination of two apparently incompatible financial theories: the financial instability hypothesis by Hyman P. Minsky and the theory of capital market inflation by Jan Toporowski. Our thesis is that, once the evolution of the financial market is taken into account, the financial Keynesianism of Minsky is still a valid framework to understand the events leading to the crisis

When and how ruling out cystic fibrosis in adult patients with bronchiectasis

Background: Bronchiectasis is the final result of different processes and most of the guidelines advocate for a careful evaluation of those etiologies which might be treated or might change patients' management, including cystic fibrosis (CF). Main body: CFTR mutations have been reported with higher frequency in bronchiectasis population. Although ruling out CF is considered as a main step for etiological screening in bronchiectasis, CF testing lacks of a standardized approach both from a research and clinical point of view. In this review a list of most widely used tests in CF is provided. Conclusions: Exclusion of CF is imperative for patients with bronchiectasis and CFTR testing should be implemented in usual screening for investigating bronchiectasis etiology. Physicians taking care of bronchiectasis patients should be aware of CFTR testing and its limitations in the adult population. Further studies on CFTR expression in human lung and translational research might elucidate the possible role of CFTR in the pathogenesis of bronchiectasis

When and how ruling out cystic fibrosis in adult patients with bronchiectasis

Background: Bronchiectasis is the final result of different processes and most of the guidelines advocate for a careful evaluation of those etiologies which might be treated or might change patients' management, including cystic fibrosis (CF). Main body: CFTR mutations have been reported with higher frequency in bronchiectasis population. Although ruling out CF is considered as a main step for etiological screening in bronchiectasis, CF testing lacks of a standardized approach both from a research and clinical point of view. In this review a list of most widely used tests in CF is provided. Conclusions: Exclusion of CF is imperative for patients with bronchiectasis and CFTR testing should be implemented in usual screening for investigating bronchiectasis etiology. Physicians taking care of bronchiectasis patients should be aware of CFTR testing and its limitations in the adult population. Further studies on CFTR expression in human lung and translational research might elucidate the possible role of CFTR in the pathogenesis of bronchiectasis

Advances in rheumatology: new targeted therapeutics

Treatment of inflammatory arthritides - including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis - has seen much progress in recent years, partially due to increased understanding of the pathogenesis of these diseases at the cellular and molecular levels. These conditions share some common mechanisms. Biologic therapies have provided a clear advance in the treatment of rheumatological conditions. Currently available TNF-targeting biologic agents that are licensed for at east one of the above-named diseases are etanercept, infliximab, adalimumab, golimumab, and certolizumab. Biologic agents with a different mechanism of action have also been approved in rheumatoid arthritis (rituximab, abatacept, and tocilizumab). Although these biologic agents are highly effective, there is a need for improved management strategies. There is also a need for education of family physicians and other healthcare professionals in the identification of early symptoms of inflammatory arthritides and the importance of early referral to rheumatologists for diagnosis and treatment. Also, researchers are developing molecules - for example, the Janus kinase inhibitor CP-690550 (tofacitinib) and the spleen tyrosine kinase inhibitor R788 (fostamatinib) - to target other aspects of the inflammatory cascade. Initial trial results with new agents are promising, and, in time, head-to-head trials will establish the best treatment options for patients. The key challenge is identifying how best to integrate these new, advanced therapies into daily practice

LA DETERMINACIÓN DEL “ELEMENTO HISTÓRICO Y MORAL” DEL VALOR DE LA FUERZA DE TRABAJO

El objetivo de este artículo es discutir la interpretación marxista dominante respecto del significado de lo que Marx llamó el “elemento histórico y moral” del valor de la fuerza de trabajo y ofrecer una lectura alternativa que sea consistente con los fundamentos de la crítica marxiana de la economía política. Para tal fin, en la primera parte del artículo, se realiza una crítica de dicha interpretación basada en el reconocimiento de su génesis histórica y su filiación con la base textual y fundamentos de la crítica marxiana de la economía política. En la segunda parte, se realiza una reconstrucción crítica del legado de Marx respecto a la determinación del valor de la fuerza de trabajo y se presenta una resignificación del elemento histórico y moral en cuestión. A DETERMINAÇÃO DO “ELEMENTO HISTÓRICO E MORAL” DO VALOR DA FORÇA DE TRABALHOO objetivo deste artigo é discutir a interpretação marxista dominante sobre o significado do que Marx chamou de “elemento histórico e moral” do valor da força de trabalho e oferecer uma leitura alternativa atrelada aos fundamentos da crítica marxiana da economia política. Para tanto, na primeira parte do artigo, realizamos uma crítica da interpretação acima citada, baseada no reconhecimento de sua gênese histórica e sua filiação com a base textual e com os fundamentos da crítica marxiana da economia política. Na segunda parte, realizamos uma reconstrução crítica do legado de Marx quanto à determinação do valor da força de trabalho e apresentamos uma ressignificação do elemento histórico e moral em questão.Palavras-chave: Elemento histórico e moral. Valor da força de trabalho. Debates marxistas. Teoria marxista do salário.THE DETERMINATION OF THE “HISTORIC AND MORAL ELEMENT” OF THE VALUE OF LABOUR POWERThe aim of this article is to challenge the prevailing Marxist interpretation of what Marx called the “historical and moral component” of the value of labour-power, and to offer an alternative reading which is consistent with the foundations of the critique of political economy. In order to do so, the first part of the article develops a critique of the aforementioned Marxist view, on the basis of a reconstruction of its historical genesis, its support on textual evidence from Marx’s works and its theoretical consistency with the foundations of the critique of political economy. Subsequently, the second part of the article undertakes a critical reconstruction of Marx’s legacy on the determination of the value of labour-power and proposes a reconsideration of the meaning of its socalled “historical and moral” component.Keywords: Historical and moral element. Value of labour-power. Marxist debates. Marx’s theory of wages.LA DÉTERMINATION DE L “ÉLÉMENT HISTORIQUE ET MORAL” DE LA VALEUR DE LA FORCE DE TRAVAILL’objectif de cet article est de discuter de l’interprétation marxiste dominante de ce que Marx appelait “l’élément historique et moral” de la valeur de la force de travail et d’offrir une lecture alternative liée aux fondements de la critique marxienne de l’économie politique. Pour ce faire, dans la première partie de l’article nous critiquons l’interprétation susmentionnée, fondée sur la reconnaissance de sa genèse historique et son affiliation à la base textuelle et aux fondements de la critique marxienne de l’économie politique. Dans la deuxième partie, nous effectuons une reconstruction critique de l’héritage de Marx concernant la détermination de la valeur de la force de travail et nous y présentons une nouvelle signification de l’élément historique et moral en question.Mots-clés: Elément historique et moral. Valeur de la force de travail. Débats marxistes. Théorie marxiste du salaire